Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a fresh plot to keep the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress, off the ballot in the 2027 general elections. 

In a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, he said elements within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government want to use political and legal machinations to exclude the ADC from the ballot.

Atiku urged its supporters to reject every attempt to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the coming election. 

He noted that the ruling party may conspire against democracy but would not decide. 

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians—not just ADC members and supporters— to rise in defence of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election.

“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” Atiku queried.

Arise Television’s anchor, Rufai Oseni, has alleged that the legal challenge against the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, was orchestrated to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Monday, Oseni claimed the timing of the lawsuit challenging the party’s registration raised questions, noting that it was filed two days after Peter Obi joined the NDC.

According to him, Obi officially joined the party on May 3, while the suit seeking to nullify the NDC registration was instituted on May 5 by what he described as a “faceless group.”

The broadcaster said the development followed what he called a familiar pattern, alleging that similar legal actions had been taken against opposition parties in recent months.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding the suit, arguing that groups now challenging the party’s registration had not previously raised objections.

Oseni also referenced the court proceedings involving the ADC, saying the judgment had attracted criticism.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to issue the necessary code that would enable the party to upload required documents, warning that any action perceived as limiting opposition participation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

He maintained that the sequence of events surrounding Obi’s defection to the NDC and the subsequent court case suggested a coordinated effort against the opposition, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Oseni said: “Let me start with NDC registration. I’m not surprised. I think I predicted it here. I said it. More will happen.

“You know why? There’s a grand attempt to ensure that opposition is weakened before the election, write it down. Grand attempt.

“Have you scrutinised the judgement? Have you seen the CTC?

“Peter Obi went to the NDC on the 3rd of May, that case was filed on the 5th of May in court. A lot of people have not even scrutinised that part.

“I said Peter Obi officially went to the NDC on the 3rd of May. The case was filed on the 5th of May by yet again another, you know, faceless group, and all of that, just like the one with the ADC, the same pattern.

“Like I predicted, since then nothing has happened to Justice Lifu. The only thing he got was a reprimand by the Court of Appeal, verbal reprimand.

“This too will go like that, so it’s a direct orchestration. I think the opposition party should not sleep, they’re going to have more.

“I mean, we’ve all seen the judgement. I don’t want to go into legalism, it falls flat on its face again. The NDC has said they’re going to get a stay of execution. Let’s see.

“I would like to advise INEC, please give them the issuance code. It’s not a big deal. Let parties be able to upload, because everything is looking like a grand conspiracy when you look at this election cycle, and I don’t know why some people are jittery. If you are confident, let opposition into the race. Don’t hold them back. Don’t do anything.

“In case your advisers are not advising you people well, you’re already tainting the credibility of the election by the time the elections will come. Anything that happens, these are part of the stories we are going to tell.

“So, if you feel you can win, win freely, nobody’s holding you from winning, but all of this shenanigan, all of this kangaroo manipulation, and all of that, it’s not fair.

“It goes back to our initial premise that a lot of people try defending “Oh, they are not attacking the opposition, they themselves have their own internal squabble.”

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm over what he described as a fresh and coordinated attempt by elements within the ruling establishment to deploy political and legal machinations to keep his party off the ballot ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku disclosed this on Monday in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

The former Vice President said he had received credible information indicating that renewed efforts may be underway to exclude the ADC from next year’s election, describing the plot as “a coordinated onslaught by anti-democratic elements within the ruling party”.

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative. If the All Progressives Congress (APC) is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” Atiku queried.

He identified what he called a now-familiar pattern of assault on the opposition, warning that institutions meant to be neutral were being drawn into partisan contests, frivolous litigations were gaining unusual momentum, administrative powers were being selectively deployed, and political pressure was being mounted behind closed doors.

Atiku accused the ruling establishment of being consumed by the obsession with silencing the opposition at the expense of governance, saying that “at a time when Nigerians are battling hunger, inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and collapsing purchasing power, those entrusted with public office appear preoccupied with political survival rather than national survival.”

He warned that any attempt to prevent the ADC from participating fully in the electoral process would represent one of the gravest assaults on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy since the return to civil rule, stressing that no administration possessed the constitutional authority to determine which political party Nigerians were permitted to vote for.

“The ballot is sacred, and every attempt to tamper with it is an attack on the Republic itself. The desire for change cannot be outlawed. Hope cannot be deregistered. Democracy cannot be subverted by administrative fiat,” Atiku declared.

The former Vice President called on the judiciary to remain faithful to its constitutional oath and resist every form of external pressure, reminding judicial officers that history had never been kind to those who sacrificed justice on the altar of political convenience.

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations and the diplomatic community to remain vigilant against any action capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

“We are placing Nigerians on notice because democracy flourishes only when citizens refuse to be indifferent. Eternal vigilance remains the price of liberty,” Atiku said, assuring that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, judicial manipulation or political engineering would weaken the resolve of millions of Nigerians who had embraced the ADC as the vehicle for rescuing the nation.